If Wolves needed bringing back down to earth after a sensational victory at Villa Park, the loss of Kevin Doyle certainly did the trick.

To be without our heroic lone frontman, potentially for the rest of the season, might well have a cataclysmic effect on our survival ambitions.

'Dirty Wolves' took a bite out of Newcastle at Molineux

But as we head to St. James’ Park looking to extend the unbeaten run to five games, Mick McCarthy will be confident, as he always is, that the squad can cope.

Newcastle themselves are still adjusting to life without a top striker, following the sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool back in January and you sense they’re a team very much limping to the finish line rather than sprinting home.

Of even more encouragement is their poor record on their own ground, with only four wins all season against six draws and five defeats. Hardly a fortress, even though they’ve plundered 32 goals at home, which is only bettered by Manchester United.

With all this considered surely there’s never been a better opportunity to return from the Tyne with a positive result?

The Wolves XI should pick itself, save the one enforced change up front, which I strongly believe will signal a return for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who scored a superb goal in the feisty game between the two sides back in August. That means a team of:

Hennessy

Foley
Berra
Stearman
Elokobi

Hammill
Henry
Milijas
O’Hara
Jarvis

SEB

That’s definitely the team I’d pick too, although I’ll certainly have no objections if Steven Fletcher got the nod up front. Both he and SEB deserve the chance to shine in Doyle’s absence.

I do hope that Mick doesn’t adjust the shape as there’s a lovely balance to the midfield at present and I’d hate to see that compromised.

Prediction League

12 of you wise gentlemen correctly predicted victory at Villa Park last time out but only one person got the score too, so well done to Casper. Three points are yours my friend.

I’m jumping on the positivity bandwagon this weekend too and plumping for another barnstorming away win.

This is a good time to be playing Newcastle and I think we’ll get the job done.

Let the good times roll. 3-1 Wolves.

If you’re heading up to the land of Toon this weekend, have a great time and get right behind the lads. If it’s anything like the first fixture at Molineux earlier in the season, it should be interesting to say the very least.

Up The Wolves.

SEB has started the season impressively

Crunching tackles, bad decisions and well taken goals are the three things that will live long in the memory about this bruising afternoon at Molineux.

From the moment Karl Henry piled into Joey Barton in front of an approving South Bank, fairly I might add, the tone of the match was set and neither side shied away from this all or nothing, blood and thunder contest.

Kevin Doyle, Jelle van Damme, Matt Jarvis, David Jones, Adlene Guedioura, Ronald Zubar and a handful of Magpies all joined Henry in the book, some more deserving of their punishment than others.

This was a horrid match to referee, with both sides up for the scrap, but the man in the middle did himself few favours with a string of decisions that incensed the crowd and did little to appease either set of players.

The worst call, his failure to award Wolves a second half penalty was not only grossly incompetent but completely illogical. As Matt Jarvis skipped by James Perch and tumbled over the defender’s clumsy tackle, the outcome seemed obvious.

But having not given the penalty, not booked Jarvis for diving and not awarded a corner, what exactly was the referee’s conclusion? The answer to that, we will probably never know.

Of course at that point, Wolves were already a goal to the good thanks to an exquisite piece of skill and a finish to match from the resurgent Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

Plucking a looping cross out of the sky and swivelling to fire the ball home in two sublime movements was our number 9 at his ruthless best and capped a performance full of endeavour.

Mick obviously appreciated his efforts too, choosing to withdraw Kevin Doyle when the time came to introduce Steven Fletcher. That was massive statement to make but one you’re hard pressed to argue with given Blake’s early season form.

Newcastle of course have a striker bang in form too and Andy Carroll’s measured header to drag the Geordies level was just reward for a towering performance in which he won practically every header.

It’s not often you’ll see Craddock and Berra bullied in the air, but that’s exactly what the young forward achieved and it surely wont’t be long until Fabio recognises the impact this powerhouse could have on our national side.

So ultimately, the spoils were shared and whilst both teams will feel they could have won it, both can count themselves lucky not to have come away from this bruising encounter with nothing.

And the fact both sides finished with eleven men on the pitch is, quite frankly, a miracle.

Both Wolves and Newcastle head into Saturday’s match with great confidence following positive results last time out.

After Sylvan grabbed us a deserved point at Goodison Park, 24 hours later the Magpies put six passed Aston Villa, emphatically announcing their return to the top flight.

Mancienne - back in on another season long loan

As a consequence this game really is beautifully poised with both Mick McCarthy and Chris Hughton probably feeling this fixture represents a solid opportunity to get another early-season win and put some vital points on the board.

Interestingly, Newcastle haven’t made any significant additions to the side that won the Championship at a canter. However, some may argue their squad was already good enough to compete in the Premiership and if last weekend’s mauling of Villa is anything to go by, you’d be hard-pressed to disagree.

Experienced trio Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Alan Smith provide the know-how and with the likes of Wayne Routledge and Andy Carroll, they have a few young guns  looking to prove themselves. I think this gives their side a nice balance.

Carroll in particular has been impressive in the opening two games, notching a hat-trick last weekend and causing Villa no end of problems. Craddock and Berra will certainly have their hands full trying to restrict his influence.

For Wolves, we’ll be looking for a repeat of the first-half heroics that saw off Stoke on opening day. Hopefully Steven Fletcher will recover from his severely bruised foot, as Mick McCarthy is desperately short on attacking options after allowing Andy Keogh to join Cardiff.

Adlene Guedioura must be pushing hard for a place in the starting eleven following his vital contribution in rescuing a point from Everton. I’d imagine Mick will give him a chance on the right side of midfield, with Jarvis switching to the left, Elokobi getting the axe and Ward slotting in at left-back.

There are other options too. Zubar impressed in midweek so perhaps he’s in contention. van Damme may also return and after an determined performance against Stoke, he could well return to the side.

The news has literally just broken too that Michael Mancienne has signed on another season-long loan. He will no doubt take his place amongst the substitutes on Saturday but will certainly come into contention in the coming weeks. (Read the story from the Wolves site here: http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2135014,00.html)

Here’s my predicted eleven:

Hahnemann

Foley
Berra
Craddock
Ward

Guedioura
Henry
Jones
Jarvis

Doyle
SEB

Prediction League

You’ll all be glad to know that I lead the Prediction League having correctly guessed the two results so far. Congratulations also to New kid on the blog who, like me, has a maximum return and sits on top of the pile.

Take a bow Super Kev Doyle, David, Jon Sidwell and t’OM for getting the result spot-on at Everton last weekend.

You can look at the full table via the menu at the top of the page or by clicking here.

It’s not too late to join in, so if you’d like to make a prediction, simply do so by leaving a comment below.

This weekend, I’m going all out for 3-1 Wolves win.

If you’re going to the game, have a great time and get behind the lads.

Up The Wolves.